With mask requirements, mouth swabs, thermometers and tables positioned six feet apart, the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards had the green light to host an in-person ceremony at the Los Angeles Convention Center. With a limited audience size, South African comedian Trevor Noah smoothly hosted the March 14 event.

Yet despite the meticulousness taken in their COVID-19 safety precautions, The Academy drew ire for other reasons leading up to the event. Canadian R&B singer The Weeknd, who many feel was snubbed from Grammy consideration with his album “After Hours,” gave a statement to The New York Times March 11 that he would refrain from submitting his music to the Grammys for any future events due to “secret committees” that select nominations. Over the past decade, the Recording Academy — who vote on the Grammys — has accumulated a stockpile of controversies, being accused of racism and sexism a number of times, in addition to alleged sexual harassment. 

Black artists have consistently criticized the Grammys’ nomination and awarding process for entirely overlooking artists of color who are highly deserving — more specifically, habitually awarding its top accolade of Album of the Year to white artists. Once again, Taylor Swift took home the acclaimed prize during the 2021 ceremony for her album “folklore,” snubbing the culture-shifting pieces from artists whose work speaks to a larger movement of social change and enlightenment such as Big Sean, Jhene Aiko and Mickey Guyton. 

Yet amid the ongoing controversy, the women of the industry did make their marks, resulting in a historically victorious night. H.E.R. snatched the Song of the Year award for the Black Lives Matter anthem “I Can’t Breathe,” Taylor Swift became the first woman to win Album of the Year three times, Billie Eilish won her second Record of the Year and rapper Megan Thee Stallion won Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance for her “Savage” remix with Beyonce. Most notably, Beyonce set a new record last night for most wins by a female artist and most wins by any singer, male or female, bringing her to an astounding total of 28 Grammys. 

Billie Eilish and Megan Thee Stallion gave the most emotionally driven speeches of the night. After winning Record of the Year for “everything I wanted,” Eilish took the stage, but took a stance the crowd likely wasn’t expecting. Standing alongside her brother and primary collaborator Finneas O’Connell, she spent the majority of her acceptance speech praising Megan Thee Stallion, shouting, “You deserve this. You had a year that I think was un-toppable (sic) … You are a queen.” 

When Thee Stallion won her award for Best Rap Performance for her “Savage” remix with Beyonce, her acceptance speech was filled with words of admiration for the oft-described “Queen Bey.” With Beyonce gracing her side, Thee Stallion said to the audience, “If you know me, you know that ever since I was little, I was like, ‘When I grow up, I’m going to be the rap Beyonce.’”

Yet without, the highlight of the night — and every Grammys award show — was the jaw-dropping performances. With a multi-stage and audience-free show, renowned artists like Dua Lipa, Doja Cat and BTS electrified the convention center with vibrant ensembles and background dancers. Anderson.Paak and Bruno Mars performed “Leave the Door Open” as the duo Silk Sonic, blessing ears with jazz sounds and soulful harmonies. To switch the night’s mood, Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B performed the clean version of their hit record “WAP,” hypnotizing virtual audiences with animated illusions and a huge platform, stripper heel set. Their first televised performance of the song, the duo showcased their most seductive dance moves, never missing a beat and making it a feat to remember.

In a more melancholic yet equally beautiful tone, producers created a montage for the musical artists the country has lost due to COVID-19 and other causes from the past year. Tears were shed when music legend Lionel Richie paid tribute to his late friend and country rock artist Kenny Rogers. After singing Rogers’ 1980s hit record “Lady,” Richie uttered “I miss you, Kenny. I miss you, man.”

My favorite moment of the night, however, was Lil Baby’s performance of “The Bigger Picture.” Joined onstage by rapper Killer Mike, activist Tamika Mallory and actor Kendrick Sampson, the performance opened with a scene of Sampson being pulled over by two white officers, who tackled him to the floor and ultimately shot him in the back as he ran away. Lil Baby then appeared, participating in a scene that resembled a Black Lives Matter protest in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks and countless other Black Americans who have lost their lives at the hands of police officers. In the middle of the performance, the camera panned to Mallory as she directly addressed President Joe Biden and demanded justice and real social change. The performance was an ode to a larger social movement, promoting necessary institutional improvement.

Was it the Grammys’ way of compensating for their allegations of racism? Perhaps. Was this a performance crafted by Lil Baby alone, with the Grammy’s receiving unwarranted credit?  Possibly. Nonetheless, we can recognize that the performance itself was powerful. And amid a night with issues of representation at the forefront, it stood tall.